Embracing a Common Future

Edmund Rice Christian Brothers

North America

Thursday, 09 August 2007

REFLECTIONS '06

From Flare Up Like a Flame, Calcutta

What impacted on me was the strength and potential of the Edmund Rice Network and meeting so many people from varied backgrounds strikes one that the work of Edmund has spread to all corners of the globe. This begs the question: how can we use the potential of the network in a positive way to promote the spirit of Edmund Rice. One off conferences are only one aspect of this potential. We need to see where this good will can lead us.

After the conference I had the good fortune to visit Asansol in West Bengal to see the various works of the Brothers and their colleagues in that city. The school for platform kids is one such outreach. These youngsters hang around the busy railway station begging or perhaps pilfering. A disused shed adjacent to the station serves as the school. India teaches that chairs and desks are not necessary for a classroom. All sit on the floor and repeat or sing their lessons with the young woman teacher.

Lunch break was the essence of simplicity. The teacher ladles the food on to a used page which each pupil pulled from their copies- a ready-made plate. They eat with their fingers and drink from the tap in the wall.

I reflected on the problem of obesity in many Western homes and schools. As a consequence of our recent prosperity in India that problem is put in perspective. Since the children started school they now hand up things they find in the station, a positive effect of their education.

Earlier I saw the same scene repeated in as simple a school situated on the municipal dump in Calcutta. GOAL sponsors that school and the youngsters sang the "Fields of Athenry" taught to them by volunteers from Cork.

One remembers simple incidents like this and also the sense of internationality felt in Kolkata as well as the breaking down of our insularity. MAY THE FLAME BURST FORTH.

Br Pat Bowler, St Helen's, Ireland

From Shaping our Future, Christian Brothers Oceania

ASSUMPTIONS THAT NEED CAREFUL EXAMINATION

reflective paper prepared by Gerard Brady c.f.c.

Have you ever wondered what it is that keeps the fires of brotherhood alive in you? In these times of upheaval by the SOFCO forces at work amongst us I am left wondering what this re-structuring is all about. I must say I don't like the term restructuring- it has too many reminiscences of the deck chairs on the Titanic. On the other hand I am told the women talk of 're-configuring' but then looking at our male variegated shapes I doubt if that term would capture what is going on with us at present. I am of the belief that whatever this process is about it is an invitation for renewal, for re-thinking and re-learning about Brotherhood in a post-modern era. For such an exploration to occur each of us is required to begin a journey to the heart of Brotherhood.

How might that journey be perceived? The imagination can access some helpful insights if we attend to them respectfully. My imagination is captured by the words of Gerard Manley Hopkins

And for all this, nature is never spent -

there lives the dearest freshness

deep down things - God's Grandeur

He captures the essence of a Mysterious Presence at work in the cosmos whereby the overpowering darkness relinquishes its hold over 'the last lights of the black West'. Within us as Brothers there exists already the dearest freshness that leads us deeper and deeper to our heart life. These forces of change at our doorsteps require us to attune to our heart-space.

Yet I can feel quite confined and restricted by the rational forces driving the SOFCO machinery. There is so much written material that pounds the headspace of our lives and leaves little to the imagination. Where can the Wild Spirit of God be unleashed in such a boxed process? I see efforts made to find prescriptors and outcomes to guide a process so encapsulated in the head that at present the heart is constricted - even under severe stress! What is wrong with 'wasting' time in imagining what life could be like as a Brother of the New Millennium based on the good - and not so good - elements of our now? What are we yearning for in our religious life and what is God yearning for us to be.. .to become?

Can we stall the juggernaut SOFCO that seems to be getting so many committees in operation at present that I wonder if there will ever be a place to stop...listen...hear. These words so recently addressed to us from Matthew's community state clearly what is required for the true disciple. We enter a discerning mode when we stop, listen and let the heart speak to us. But of course that silence can be disconcerting. It can cause edginess, nervous energies surface that can distract us from the task at hand - listening for God at work in Wild Spirit that refuses to be tamed by a process, an outcome, a presciptor or, dare I say it, a SOFCO.

What is presently driving SOFCO?

There appears to be a definitive need to keep the process moving - but where is it moving toward and for what reason? Is SOFCO itself being driven by an assumption that restructuring in the manner which is presently being followed will lead to hearts and minds being transformed? To actually reshape structures does NOT lead to a transformative process. Unless the Brothers can be engaged in the process then their voice cannot be heard sufficiently to make informed decisions.

There are now quite a number of Brothers who are feeling more disengaged by the present SOFCO process. So what is going on? Why are these Brothers feeling disengaged and disaffected? What does SOFCO need to change in its outlook, process and modus operandi in order to re-engage the Brothers? Some Brothers have written, spoken with ILC members and still there appears to be no change to this ongoing process used by SOFCO. The only response that seems to emerge is that a process has been accepted by the ILC and it is not capable of altering the present course of action. If such a process is disengaging Brothers then the drivers of this SOFCO process need to pay attention.

Is this SOFCO process flawed? This is a critical question that has to be addressed before the SOFCO process proceeds any further. What continues to drive the present SOFCO machinery to keep moving on despite the fact that there is now enough data to suggest that more Brothers ARE being disaffected by the process?

Dare we STOP and LISTEN?

Why can't this present SOFCO process be halted and reviewed by an outside professional group who can ask reflective and penetrative questions about the actual needs of the Brothers at this time then devise a way of assessing what is going on in this present process. Such professionals will be able to assist us uncover the basic flaws of the present SOFCO process. This is an urgent call to redirect this process and re-engage Brothers in the process before this good opportunity for renewal is lost.

The heart of a transformative life for us as Brothers is based in effective community living... that has to be the focus of any renewal [vs restructuring]. Restructure is merely about that — changing structures NOT HEARTS. One does not lead to the other.

Up to this point how have effective communities evolved and continue to evolve?

* Because they have learnt to have intimate contact with each other and discovered good effective skills for community living

* Because their real needs are known closely by each other and their present leaders

* Because they have regular intimate contact with Province leadership personnel

* Because the present Province leadership is able to plan and organize workshops/retreats/ in-services and professional development that matches the needs of the group and is aware of the needs of each group it cares for.

How can some distanced OLC ever know the mind and heart of each community and provide effective intimate leadership? This is a critical question for us to face in reality.

Literature on leadership insists that effective leadership is about closeness, subsidiarity and collegiality. The present SOFCO restructuring assumes that good bureaucratic management will ensure effective community life and effective decision-making. We question that assumption. The more distant a leadership group becomes, both physically and psychologically, the more those being lead feel distanced, and unsure of themselves. The modus operandi that drives such a process will be to second guess the needs of those who are being led, namely us!

How has the present process embarked on by SOFCO been decided? How was it agreed that

Mission statement

Pastoral needs and

Leadership Models

are the most effective tools in restructuring?

Who has come up with this present plan for SOFCO?

How was it approved?

Where has it been tested?

Who has verified its truth?

Who has researched that this a good way of going?

Where else has this model worked?

It leaves me wondering: what is at the heart of this transformation? How can our hearts and minds be transformed for mission?

What is driving this present SOFCO process toward A SERIES of LEADERSHIP MODELS that have to be produced by January for the Brisbane Conference?

Why is this seen to be such a pressing need? Surely there is something far greater for us to do in Brisbane. The Brisbane gathering of Brothers has the unique opportunity to begin a journey together of renewal of hearts and minds in the Oceania region. This long-term process of creating a climate where Brothers across Oceania can come together to listen respectfully to the story of Brothers and hear the stories is the seed-bed of great things to come.

This process of renewing our hearts and minds has the great potential for gradual levels of trust to be forged among the Brothers of Oceania. Once we become known to each other and share our common story together this provides the climate for dreams and hopes to emerge and a new energy for MISSION and brotherhood for Oceania to evolve.

Imagine like-hearted Brothers coming together to share their stories of what it is that gives purpose and meaning to their present life as Brother. In that will be the essence of MISSION into the future. We do not have to guess or assume — we can hear it for ourselves and let it emerge and be named for what it is: OUR OCEANIA MISSION.

The present mission statement process did not attend to the heart of each Brother's mission, nor was timegiven to hear the story of each Brother’s mission.

The potential energy of our gathering in Brisbane may well lead the Brothers to WANT to come together in other ways into the future such as clusters and groups from around Oceania to share greater possibilities for mission. This gathering has the potential to fire the hearts of Brothers and our collaborators into wider dimensions of mission. It is from such dreams that a potential for the emergence of an authentic vision for mission can arise.

At the heart of renewal [not restructuring] is transformation. It is that process which will lead us to find renewed energy for THE MISSION of our congregation here in Oceania. A by-product will be some form of restructuring of bureaucracy to make this mission more effective but that is only the end product of a longer process involving Brothers listening for God in each other. To assume that the restructuring will lead to transformation is risky business.

A true renewal of hearts and minds will bring about effective leadership at all levels of our congregational life. When each Brother is valued for who he is as a person and his particular gifts are acknowledged and realized then a climate is being developed where each Brother can be invited and challenged to listen for God in his life and in the congregation community and use our collective leadership for MISSION.

A Story

Blowing through the heaven and earth, and in our hearts and in the heart of every living thing, is a gigantic breath - a great Cry - which we call God. Plant life wished to continue its motionless sleep next to stagnant waters, but the Cry leaped within it and violently shook its roots: 'Away, let go of the earth, walk!' Had the tree been able to think and judge, it would have cried, 'I don't want to. What are you urging me to do? You are demanding the impossible!'

But the Cry, without pity, kept shaking its roots and shouting, 'Away! Let go of the earth, walk!'

It shouted in this way for thousand of eons; and lo, as a result of desire and struggle life escaped the motionless tree and was liberated.

Animals appeared - worms - making themselves at home in water and mud. 'We're just fine', they said, 'We have peace and security; we 're not budging'.

But the terrible cry hammered itself pitilessly into their lions.

'Leave the mud, stand up, give birth to your betters!'

'We don't want to! We can't!'

'You can't, but I can! Stand up!'

And lo! after thousands of eons, man emerged trembling on his still unsteady legs.

The human being is a centaur; his equine hoofs are planted in the ground, but the body from breast to head is worked on and tormented by the merciless Cry. He has been fighting, again for thousands of eons, to draw himself out of this animalistic scabbard. He is also fighting - and this is his new struggle - to draw himself out of his human scabbard. Man calls in despair 'Where can I go? I have reached the pinnacle, beyond is the abyss'. And the Cry answers, 'I am beyond. Stand up!'

Thoughts After the Karibu Experience

Brother Jim Harlow shares with the PLT his further reflection on his experience

and makes a recommendation

Having recently attended one of our Congregation's newly initiated renewal programs, I would like to report some of my reactions to you as a member of our Province Leadership Team. During the past few weeks since my return from Nairobi, I have taken some time to reflect on this Karibu Program before writing to you,

Since I believe in the present guiding role of the Holy Spirit within our congregation and because of our Chapter's insight for us to transform our hearts, I applied for this renewal experience as an opportunity to delve deeper into the challenge of heart-centered spirituality and what that means for me with a view of the international world. Oh yes, I have ministered to the poor previously, but recently I have been asking the Lord where are we being lead in the world today.

The most impressionable memory of the month-long experience has been of the extensiveness of the number of people who are living in dire poverty in the city of Nairobi. I look upon this city as a replication of the situation in East Africa, and for the whole continent of Africa, and for the third world in general. My fellow participants and I learned of the struggles of people to earn a mere $1 a day and the realization that over 50% of the adult population cannot even find employment. Meanwhile I read that the leading industrialized nations don't even consider Kenya on their list of the many countries of Africa that qualify for the possibility of reducing their international loans.

The other lasting memory has been my newly attained awareness of the ministry of the Christian Brothers in East Africa. Started by the Australian brothers only about 15 years ago, their ministry sites are right in the heart of the slums. Their centers are situated such that the people have easy access to them. In fact, the children can very easily walk to school. My point here is that our brothers, now both the Australian missionary and African brothers and student brothers, and their co-workers are ministering to the poor, the orphans, and the victims of social injustices. This makes me very proud of our congregation and our church.

Yes, HIV/AIDS have caused many problems. I think if Edmund was alive today he would be addressing this dilemma as he did with the needy of Waterford. One outcome of this epidemic is the large number of orphaned children. Usually relatives or neighbors take these kids in, but since these poor parents already have insufficient food for their own children, hunger and malnourishment only increase. Meanwhile Kenya itself doesn't even have enough schools for all their children. Many studies indicate that education is a vital solution to the poverty of the third world countries.

As you can see, the realities of the needs of Nairobi and Africa in general, have been brought home to me. Rather than continuing on with a litany of situations that I have become aware of, I would like to get to my most important point in this letter. I write all of the above only to recommend to you to encourage our co-members and brothers of the Edmund Rice Network to experience one of our renewal programs. These are excellent ways for us to experience and incorporate the insights suggested to us from our last Congregational Chapter. That is, I believe, with God's help, one may be able to explore a live spirituality, gain the hope of new life and a renewed sense of joy, rediscover the precious gift of brotherhood, get a better understanding of new ventures into education of the poor, help develop the international network of the Edmund Rice charism, transform one's heart in a quest for justice, and/or see with refreshed eyes how new wine may be put in the new wineskins from a global vantage point. I propose an increase of North American participation in our international congregational renewal programs as a priority. Besides learning from these experiences, I feel our co-workers and brothers have many gifts to contribute to our multinational congregational network.

Fraternally,

Jim Harlow, CFC